SURREY, B.C. - Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger says he doesn't condone drinking and driving and said he made a mistake the night he was pulled over charged with having a blood alcohol level almost twice the legal limit.

Kroeger was handed a one-year driving prohibition during a sentencing hearing Thursday and fined $600, but his lawyer says he will appeal. The sentence is the mandatory minimum and was endorsed by the Crown.

The rock star said nothing in court and commented only briefly as he hurried out a side door after the sentencing.

Kroeger, 33, decked out in a long black trench coat with the collar turned up, and dark sunglasses, was asked outside if he had anything to say to his young fans.

"Don't drink and drive, absolutely," he replied, adding that the case has "been a little trying."

"I don't condone drinking and driving," he said before sliding into a car driven by an unidentified man. "I don't think you should do it. Everybody makes mistakes."

Although the band is popular, there were virtually no fans in attendance for the sentencing that lasted about 10 minutes.

The courtroom contained more reporters than spectators, and some of the spectators worked at the provincial courthouse.

"He did clearly make a mistake on the night this occurred," Kroeger's lawyer, Marvin Stern, said after the hearing.

Stern reminded reporters that Kroeger had earlier been acquitted of impaired driving.

"It was more a matter of a technical convention for having a blood alcohol reading over .08 as opposed to how he was driving and behaving on the night in question or, colloquially, whether he was drunk or not."

Stern said he felt that was "an important distinction."

When Kroeger was pulled over, the RCMP officer asked him to blow into his face after detecting the smell of alcohol.

Stern had argued during the trial that that was an unlawful search that violated Kroeger's rights and the evidence should be excluded.

Stern said the judge acknowledged the practice of blowing in the face is unconstitutional.

But Judge Peder Gulbrandsen didn't exclude the evidence because he said it was obtained legally.

Stern also argued the Mountie stayed far too long at the scene with Kroeger while arrangements were made to tow Kroeger's car and failed to obtain two further breath samples "as soon as practicable" as required by the Criminal Code.

But Gulbrandsen disagreed, saying the obligation to obtain samples as soon as practicable does not mean they be obtained as soon as possible.

Kroeger, whose real name is Chad Turton, was stopped for speeding in his red, $175,000 Lamborghini in suburban Surrey in June 2006.

His blood alcohol reading was 0.14, almost twice the legal limit.

Stern noted the singer's charitable works including raising money for women's issues and said the driving prohibition will be an inconvenience because Kroeger lives in a rural area.

"This is a matter that has been a significant intrusion in his life," said Stern.

Vancouver-based Nickelback has won nine Juno Awards and had seven Grammy nominations and was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

Nickelback was formed in Hanna, Alta., by Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Brandon Kroeger but relocated to Vancouver.